Samuel hesitated at length once again. And when he finally offered an answer, it was nothing particularly remarkable.
"As I mentioned, the situation in the past differs from the present."
Of course, unlike in the past, Samuel was no longer a Knight of the Round Table. He was merely human.
But if I, a human, could take Deiris's place, couldn't Samuel also find peace in his current form?
Or perhaps some portion of his authority could be left to him?
"You're saying that won't be a problem either?"
At my suspicious question, Samuel nodded slowly.
"……Yes."
I frowned at his unconvincing answer.
No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't bring myself to trust him. He had already betrayed us once, and I still didn't understand what form his repentance was supposed to take.
Even after recovering his memories, Samuel had never once asked the knights for forgiveness. Rather, he continued to hold his head high, both then and now.
Just how magnificent a duty was guiding me to the end, that he could remain so haughty?
"Sir, if you intend to repeat the same deeds as before, I will put everything on the line and not let you be."
"I will not do so."
This time, a rather quick and firm answer came back. At least that steady gaze seemed sincere.
Still feeling uneasy, I glared at Samuel and asked one final question.
"The final authority will be properly executed, correct?"
"Yes."
Then that was enough. Frustrated that further conversation would yield no answers, I waved my hand.
"If there are no problems, that's fine."
I wanted to end this arduous journey as soon as possible. Like the Dullahans, I too was now yearning for my rest.
"I will execute the final authority, so lead the way.
At the end of this, I hoped the peace I sought would be there.
* * *
"They say the fighting over Roam's assets is intense."
"Naturally so."
"They are a heretical house. Shouldn't all their assets be confiscated to replenish the treasury?"
At the somewhat disgruntled aide's words, Heinrich offered a faint smile.
"Where would Roam's assets be limited to mere wealth?"
Wealth could always be accumulated again if lost.
What mattered was the connections and status Roam had built over time. Though the name 'Roam' had been dragged through the mud, the positions they had long occupied would remain intact.
"Let them fight a while longer."
In truth, Heinrich had already elevated some members of the branch family as candidates for the new Roam. Of course, he wouldn't actually give them the 'Roam' name……
If he gave it up easily, they would become arrogant. He intended to leave them be until they were desperate enough to bend the knee.
Moreover, Heinrich had more important matters to attend to.
"More importantly, has His Majesty still not made a decision?"
The Emperor, who refused to sign the document to depose Maxel, was truly a headache.
Did the Emperor truly not understand that this was the final courtesy for Maxel?
"At this rate, I have no choice but to cast out my mad brother."
He had hoped to proceed with the deposition quietly to preserve what little dignity the Imperial family had left.
Heinrich clicked his tongue and signed several documents.
"Now, tell them to submit the final diagnosis to the Imperial Physician."
If they had to prove before all the nobles that the Crown Prince's mind was unsound, then so be it.
Annoyed, Heinrich pressed his temples firmly before changing the subject.
"What of the Roam family?"
The fall of Roam, which had been high-spirited for generations, was the hottest topic among the capital's residents these days.
Without anyone deliberately spreading rumors, tales of their wretched state spread from mouth to mouth, and thanks to this, the name Roam had now become something shameful enough for even an ordinary child to know.
Of course, for Heinrich, receiving reports on Roam's downfall wasn't merely for entertainment.
He was organizing stories to tell her, preparing for Annelie's contact that could come at any time.
"The Duchess of Roam has lost some of her spirit. And the Duke of Roam…… still insists he must meet the resurrected one."
"Tsk. And that family's eldest?"
"He still hasn't risen from his sickbed. Apparently his organs were severely damaged from extensive exposure to toxic energy. He lacks the will to recover, so he likely won't last long."
More precisely, after the Duke and Duchess were both taken to prison, they were reportedly left without anyone to properly care for them.
The man who was once her husband was too busy joining the fight for Roam's assets.
"And the third?"
"Someone apparently conveyed news of Roam to him. They say he's throwing tantrums, trying to escape the monastery. He's been diagnosed with worsening mental instability and transferred to a cloistered monastery."
Heinrich rubbed his chin and nodded.
Seiri Roam, wasn't it? A boy who always clung to the Duchess's skirts—he had always struck him as rather frail.
When he heard the Duke of Roam had sent his son to a monastery for recuperation, he had assigned people to watch, suspecting he might be sneaking him out.
But upon receiving the surveillance reports on Seiri, it seemed the claims about his unstable mind were true.
Even in the peaceful monastery, Seiri kept to himself and spent his time abusing small animals.
If his condition was truly that poor, Heinrich had been considering whether to keep him confined in the monastery. But now he had caused trouble on his own. Perhaps it was for the best.
Heinrich instructed the surveillance to continue and brought up another name.
"What about Lilia Roam?"
Lilia Roam had received a heavier sentence than other Roam family members. The ruling stated she had directly caused harm while beside the Crown Prince.
Of course, Lilia had consistently denied her charges, but there were numerous witnesses within the palace who had seen her whispering at the Crown Prince's side.
Had this not happened, those whispers would have remained as sweet nothings between lovers.
"The same."
"The same" meant she was still spouting nonsense. Since being imprisoned, Lilia's words had been largely consistent.
That she needed to regain her prophetic abilities, that Annelie had framed her, and that God had not yet abandoned her.
"Lately she keeps demanding sleeping pills."
"Is she trying to avoid public execution somehow? Make sure the guards keep tight control."
"Yes."
The aide continued with several more reports. With only himself and the Empress capable of handling work in the Imperial palace, Heinrich had to endure the aide's presence for quite some time.
By the time he finished, the sun had tilted, and the sky began to turn red.
Rubbing his eyes stiff from poring over documents for so long, Heinrich rose from his chair.
He stretched his stiff body this way and that before moving to the window, gazing at the distant sky as he murmured.
"Another day passes like this."
The communication artifact he habitually touched from time to time remained silent.
"Just what is she doing in the Belladia mountain range?"
He and she weren't close enough to question every little detail, but surely some worry was permissible.
Heinrich gripped the communication artifact tightly and sighed.
It seemed there would be no contact from Annelie today either.
* * *
"Please give me some sleeping pills, won't you?"
She pleaded earnestly, but no answer came. Lilia, who had somehow pressed her face between the bars, retreated once more empty-handed.
She had long since grown accustomed to the musty air and foul odors of the prison. Her body itchy from not washing, her skin mottled from insect bites—she could endure all of that.
Even moldy bread or soup containing who-knows-what was bearable.
What she couldn't endure was just one thing.
"I need to sleep, I need to sleep……."
Having slept all day, she couldn't sleep now even when she wanted to.
Day by day the pages were torn, and now only a few remained. Lilia wanted to protect even those somehow.
The thought that someone was damaging her book without permission during these waking hours filled her with truly unbearable horror.
"Ah, my prophecy……."
Lilia curled up and collapsed onto the prison floor.
Everything had become a mess. Now not a single thing remained as she knew it.
Roam had completely fallen, the Crown Prince was confined, and she was trapped here like this, growing madder by the day.
"Annelie Roam."
Just what had she done? Why had things come to this? No matter how much she thought, Lilia couldn't understand.
She had only acted as her prophecy guided her. How had Annelie intervened?
As if she had looked inside her mind, like that……
"No, this can't be……."
Suppressing her sobs, Lilia curled into a ball and mumbled to herself. Her ears caught the loud clanking of metal.
*Thud.*
The sound of the outer door opening.
Lilia raised her head with hope in her face. Along with heavy footsteps, two guards appeared.
Behind them, a neatly dressed servant followed them in.
"Has my false charge been cleared?"
At Lilia suddenly rising and clinging to the bars, the servant flinched and stopped.
With a look of distaste, he surveyed Lilia before pulling a sheet of paper from his breast. He cleared his throat and began to speak in a grave voice.
"Lilia Roam, your execution date has been set."
At the first words, Lilia's face turned pale. Instantly transforming into a wild-eyed look, Lilia thrust her arm through the bars and flailed about.
"That's absurd! Why me! How!"
"Argh!"
"Grab her, quickly!"
While the guards seized Lilia's arms to subdue her, the servant stepped back with a frightened expression.
He then began quickly reading the contents he was to deliver. When, where, and how she would die.
Lilia roared. Even if it made her look more like a madwoman, she couldn't help it.
Her voice crying her innocence reached no one's ears, crumbling as it struck the cold prison walls.
By cruel irony, the place where Lilia would stand was the guillotine.